War on drugs a failure

How badly should we beat up Trey?

Perhaps I should be happy. Usually when opponents in political races see another candidate falter there’s a little Schadenfreude. Instead, I stand a little conflicted.

As a libertarian, a fundamental belief is adults being free to live their lives as they choose, provided no one else’s rights are infringed. I believe the war on drugs is a miserable failure, so if I have a problem with Mr. Radel, it’s not that I would consider him a criminal, but the term “hypocrite” comes to mind.

To openly condemn a behavior, while doing it in the shadows, makes me wonder about integrity with business dealings and constituent representation. So, I feel badly for Mr. Radel’s family, and if there are one or more substance abuse issues that he seeks help to overcome, great… because it is a medical issue.

However, it’s important to remember that there are no perfect people, and hence no perfect candidates. The incumbents in DC take that even further, with greater partisanship, greater intolerance, and terrible governance.

If the voters of District 19 determine that Mr. Radel has dropped the baton, I will carry it forward to the best of my ability if chosen to do so.

Ray Netherwood, Libertarian candidate for U.S. House D-19, Marco Island

Stressful job

So Trey Radel had to resort to cocaine due to the stress caused by the Affordable Care Act? Just when I thought there was nothing left to blame Obama for.

Jim Keener, Fort Myers

Hypocritical event of the month

Trey Radel voted to require drug tests for all recipients of food stamps. It is not only classic that he is busted for cocaine use, but it is also, pure theatre.

And parenthetically, the food stamp issue was meant to show how shiftless minorities were, but if you Google this question: Who gets more food stamps, blacks or whites? You will be enlightened to read that whites are, by far, the biggest recipients.

Harriet Stanton-Leaffer, a white person, Matlacha

Blessing in disguise

Stand back! I can hear the screaming for Trey Radel’s head now. This coming from the tolerant liberal progressives. They forget their prize Bill Clinton whom as I remember was president at the time using the Oval Office (which George W. Bush called the center of the free world) as his private sex pad. Did he not lie about that also? This setback for Trey Radel could be the best thing for him and his family. This is his chance to get his life back on track. Pull in your horns liberals he deserves another chance.

Alex Cerino, Cape Coral

Hysterical reaction

While I am no fan of Trey Radel and did not vote for him, I believe the reaction to his cocaine use is a bit on the hysterical side. While I certainly do not want any of my elected officials to use cocaine or other drugs, I feel compelled to listen to his side of the story - again, not as a fan, but as a person acquainted with the alcoholism and recovery of people I know.

Denial and deception are characteristics of an alcoholic personality. Radel admits he is an alcoholic. Admitting he has a problem (unlike Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who doesn’t appear inclined to admit anything) is a huge step forward. If he gets treatment or enters a program of recovery, and if he follows a recovery program every day, one day at a time, he stands a chance of not repeating his addictive behavior.

Laurie Morris, Lehigh Acres

Florida's elected crooks

First, you chose a con man to be our governor. The massive insurance fraud perpetrated by Rick Scott’s former company, the now-defunct Columbia Hospital Corporation, was an embarrassment to the entire health care industry.

And now, you’ve chosen Trey Radel, a cocaine-addicted Neanderthal, to represent us in Congress. Radel was one of the morons who voted to shut down Congress, resulting in billions of dollars of losses in wages and the temporary suspension of important public services.

But hey, you couldn’t know that was going to happen when you elected him, right? After all, he claims to be a born-again Christian and stands for “family values” (translation: he hates gays).

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Ronnie Stephens, Lehigh Acres

Pray for him but ask for resignation

Trey Radel caught in a sting admits to alcoholism and added to that problem cocaine. As if one problem was not enough. This behavior is completely stupid and this guy does not belong in government, period.

Now for those who voted for him and seek forgiveness and want to pray for him, that’s fine as long as he gets out of government. Remember, the police went to a lot of trouble and expense catching this guy and should not be rewarded by the courts. Don’t turn your backs on police and get this guy out of driving a car and out of Congress where he’s making choices for us. His own choices were so ignorant he needs to be punished and not slapped on the wrist like most politicians.

Roger McHose, Cape Coral

No second chance

Toronto Mayor Ford and Southwest Florida’s Congressman Radel are both alcoholics and use illegal drugs. No second chances for these criminals should be considered. Fine, let them get treatment for their diseases but not while in office at their constituents’ expense.

These ingrates thumbed their noses at those that voted for them and they’re both as despicable as each other. For that matter Ford was just on tape using an illegal drug while Radel was caught buying his drug from an undercover law enforcement official. One’s boisterous and the other is not. So what. They both have earned their dismissal from office for dismissing the public’s trust.

Walt Massey, North Fort Myers

Growing and learning

Mr. Radel is far too valuable a person to be thrown under the bus over a bit of poppy extract.

I did not vote for him and rarely agree with his politics, but he is growing and learning as he goes. We have all had humbling experiences in our lives that have moved us forward and made us better people. I am sure we have outgrown a lynch-mob mentality, and we are prepared to let justice prevail.

Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution seems to suggest that members of U.S. legislature shall be immune from arrest or questioning while on duty in D.C. “except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace.” If I am not mistaken, Mr. Radel is not accused of any of these, since the amount of cocaine he allegedly possessed amounts no more that low-level misdemeanor for a first offender according to the laws of D.C.

Bruce Diamond, Fort Myers

Matter of trust

Speaker Boehner should demand that Rep. Trey Radel resign immediately. Rep. Radel now admits he is an alcoholic, has been caught possessing cocaine, and says his favorite vacation spot is Cartagena, Colombia! We certainly didn’t hear any of these flaws when he was campaigning.

No excuses of sickness and going to rehab to take care of the problem on the dime of the taxpayers. If he goes to rehab, he’s not working for us and should be stripped of his job.

I don’t care if he’s a Republican or Democrat - he broke the law, and does not deserve all the perks and benefits of being a member of Congress. He is a black mark on Florida politics.

And for those of you who disagree, if you are an alcoholic cocaine abuser, do you think you should keep your job and get paid while you go off to be cured? Ha! I don’t think your employer would trust you anymore, just like I don’t trust Trey Radel. Demand Radel’s resignation.